Warren wrote: ↑18 Aug 2018, 16:29
And I was about to say "Exactly, and you shouldn't have to bake a cake for them." But you're not a cake baker, and then it hit me. As an EMT, I actually don't think you should be allowed that luxury. If some gay-bashing skinhead is lying with his dick in the dirt and you get called to the scene, your job is to provide the best care you're capable of. I think that goes beyond an ethical duty. It's a legal duty as well. You don't get to say, "fuck that guy".
I expect you actually agree with that. But I'm not sure where and how I draw the line now.
In principle, I'm a free association guy. You don't have to bake cakes, you don't have to host vloggers, you don't have to do business with anyone you don't want to do business with for whatever reason.
But I have exceptions. In addition to Emergency responders, I don't think most doctors and medical service providers get to make that call either.
And there comes a point when free association becomes institutional oppression. One 'whites only' lunch counter in town isn't a problem, segregation all over town is. I'm not sure where it tips. I am sure that in 2018 America it's not necessary to force people to provide their services to all race, gender, religion, because discrimination based on those criteria is not generally tolerated.
My profession is a bit different. I take a lot of pride in being the guy who comes when someone calls for help. It doesn't matter who that person is, or what their circumstances are, we come and provide the best help we can. Period. Full stop. I've treated people with swastika tattoos who answered my inquiry about the current President* with "that nigger." I've treated drunks, druggies, postictal, hypoglycemic, and head injury patients who were doing their best to beat my ass while I treated them. All of them got the best treatment I could give.
Of course, that's what I signed up for. I spent several years going to night school and then full-time school to become a firefighter/paramedic. I never had any doubt about the requirement to treat everyone who called for help. In fact, that's exactly what I wanted. And I absolutely would say that anyone in that profession who thinks differently ought to look for another line of work.
A cake baker is a different thing, of course. I'm also generally a free association guy, and my instinct, should someone refuse to do business with me because I'm with a guy, is to say, "well, fuck you then. I'll take my money elsewhere." I may also be inclined to spread the word that business X has an issue with teh gheys, and people who have an issue with people who have an issue with teh gheys should probably go elsewhere.
However......I'm somewhat sympathetic to the idea that when that principle is applied everywhere, it can create an environment in which people do face systematic legal discrimination. Not every business in the Jim Crow era refused to serve black people because he law told them to. At the same time, I don't think the roadblocks gay people face are anywhere near as extreme as black people face even today. My personal experience is that it just isn't much of an issue. I've gotten looks before, but that's about it. (To be fair, neither the soon-to-be-ex hubby nor I come across as the sort of guys who are presumed to like guys. I don't think it was always obvious that we were a couple.)
Shorter: I'm conflicted on the baker case. In the case of medical people, cops, firefighters, pharmacists, etc, I have no conflict. The job is to serve all people who come to you. Don't like that? Find something else to do.
*A standard question to establish a person's level of mentation is 'who is the current President.'
